Search results for "Muscle"

Modulations of corticospinal excitability following rapid ankle dorsiflexion in skill- and endurance-trained athletes

2022

Abstract Purpose Long-term sports training, such as skill and endurance training, leads to specific neuroplasticity. However, it remains unclear if muscle stretch-induced proprioceptive feedback influences corticospinal facilitation/inhibition differently between skill- and endurance-trained athletes. This study investigated modulation of corticospinal excitability following rapid ankle dorsiflexion between well-trained skill and endurance athletes. Methods Ten skill- and ten endurance-trained athletes participated in the study. Corticospinal excitability was tested by single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulations (TMS) at three different latencies following passive rapid ankl…

Does Stretching Training Influence Muscular Strength? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

2022

Thomas, E, Ficarra, S, Nunes, JP, Paoli, A, Bellafiore, M, Palma, A, and Bianco, A. Does stretching training influence muscular strength? A systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-This aim of this study was to review articles that performed stretching training and evaluated the effects on muscular strength. Literature search was performed using 3 databases. Studies were included if they compared the effects on strength following stretching training vs. a nontraining control group or stretching training combined with resistance training (RT) vs. an RT-only group, after at least 4 weeks of intervention. The meta-analyses were performe…

A Polygenic Risk Score for Hand Grip Strength Predicts Muscle Strength and Proximal and Distal Functional Outcomes among Older Women

2022

Purpose Hand grip strength (HGS) is a widely used indicator of overall muscle strength and general health. We computed a polygenic risk score (PRS) for HGS, and examined, whether it predicted muscle strength, functional capacity and disability outcomes. Methods Genome-wide association study summary statistics for HGS from the Pan-UK Biobank was utilized. PRSs were calculated in the Finnish Twin Study on Aging (N = 429 women, 63–76 years). Strength tests included HGS, isometric knee extension, and ankle plantar flexion strength. Functional capacity was examined with the Timed Up and Go, six-minute and 10-meter walk tests, and dual-task tests. Disabilities in the basic (ADL) and instrumental …

Effects of aging and training on sprint performance, muscle structure and contractile function in athletes

2009

Cross-sectional studies were conducted to examine sprint running, anaerobic energy production and muscle properties in male sprinters aged 17-88 years. In addition, a 20-week training intervention was carried out to determine whether older runners can further improve their neuromuscular and performance characteristics by a greater emphasis on strength training. With age, sprint performance declined gradually (5-6%/decade). The slowing of maximum speed was characterized by a reduction in stride length and an increase in contact time along with lower ground reaction forces (GRF) and smaller leg and vertical stiffness during the contact phase. Stride frequency showed small decline while swing …

Physiological, Perceptual, and Performance Responses to the 2-Week Block of High- versus Low-Intensity Endurance Training

2022

Purpose This study examined the physiological, perceptual, and performance responses to a 2-week block of increased training load and compared whether responses differ between high-intensity interval (HIIT) and low-intensity (LIT) endurance training. Methods Thirty recreationally trained males and females performed a two-week block of 10 HIIT-sessions (INT, n = 15) or 70 % increased volume of LIT (VOL, n = 15). Running time in the 3000 m and basal serum and urine hormone concentrations were measured before (T1) and after the block (T2), and after a recovery week (T3). In addition, weekly averages of nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) and perceived recovery were compared to the baseline.…

Functional Basis of Asymmetrical Lower-Body Skeletal Morphology in Professional Australian Rules Footballers

2020

Hart, NH, Newton, RU, Weber, J, Spiteri, T, Rantalainen, T, Dobbin, M, Chivers, P, and Nimphius, S. Functional basis of asymmetrical lower-body skeletal morphology in elite Australian footballers. J Strength Cond Res 34(3): 791–799, 2020—Bone strength is a product of its material and structural properties and is highly responsive to mechanical load. Given the measureable and adaptable features of bone, and thus relevance to medical screening, injury prevention, and injury management in athletes, this study describes the lower-body skeletal morphology of professional Australian rules footballers. Using a cross-sectional and quantitative study design, 54 professional Australian rules football…

Protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus of low/high aerobic capacity rats

2010

Hippocrates and Plato have first documented the connection between a healthy mind and body, during a period which launched analytical thinking and philosophy in Ancient Greece. Modern research has also indicated the contribution of an active lifestyle to enhanced brain performance and decreased incidence of neurodegenerative diseases and mood disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression respectively. This has been hypothesized to emerge through mechanisms which are enhanced by exercise and contribute on brain plas-ticity and health. The Neurotrophins hypothesis implicates several molecules in brain plasticity and healthy aging. Among them, Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) ha…

The Case of Insertional Adductor Tendinopathy of an International-Level 3,000-m Steeplechase Runner

2021

Background: Groin pain is a frequent condition among athletes. One of the causes of groin pain is tendinopathy, a frequently diagnosed medical condition, which can also occur in the adductor muscles. Despite the high prevalence of this medical condition among athletes, it is infrequent to observe tendinopathic groin pain in steeplechase runners. The aim of this case study is to describe the case of an international-level 3,000-m steeplechase runner with groin pain, who was subsequently diagnosed with adductor insertional tendinopathy.Case Presentation: We present the case of an Italian 3,000-m steeplechase and long distance runner, Ala Zoghlami (180 cm, 57 kg), with groin pain, diagnosed as…

Endurance Training and Heart Agiogenesis: new insights

2009

Targeting the Activin Receptor Signaling to Counteract the Multi-Systemic Complications of Cancer and Its Treatments

2021

Muscle wasting, i.e., cachexia, frequently occurs in cancer and associates with poor prognosis and increased morbidity and mortality. Anticancer treatments have also been shown to contribute to sustainment or exacerbation of cachexia, thus affecting quality of life and overall survival in cancer patients. Pre-clinical studies have shown that blocking activin receptor type 2 (ACVR2) or its ligands and their downstream signaling can preserve muscle mass in rodents bearing experimental cancers, as well as in chemotherapy-treated animals. In tumor-bearing mice, the prevention of skeletal and respiratory muscle wasting was also associated with improved survival. However, the definitive proof tha…